National ADAP Crisis

February 2011

The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), part of the Ryan White program, provides prescription assistance to low-income individuals living with HIV. ADAP helps over 165,000 HIV positive Americans maintain their health by providing access to life-prolonging drugs.

ADAP is now in the most serious crisis since its inception, with over 6,000 individuals on waiting lists for their life-saving medications in 10 states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming. Many more states have been forced to implement cost-containment measures that further restrict treatment access. While the crisis varies state to state, federal and state funding has not kept up with the financial needs of the program. In addition, the economic environment has caused unusually high unemployment. Many people have lost their health insurance and are forced to rely on ADAP and other public health programs.

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